Fox out-foxed by federal investigators

Thursday

Oct 29, 2009 at 12:01 AMOct 29, 2009 at 1:18 PM

When he was a state lawmaker, Michael A. Fox had his share of problems. But it pales in comparison to the trouble Fox faces after being indicted today in federal court on charges of improperly benefiting from government contracts and mail fraud during his tenure as a Butler County commissioner.

When he was a state lawmaker, Michael A. Fox had his share of problems. But it pales in comparison to the trouble Fox faces after being indicted today in federal court on charges of improperly benefiting from government contracts and mail fraud during his tenure as a Butler County commissioner.

Fox, 60, will appear in federal court in Columbus this afternoon, along with Robert C. Schuler, a Dublin attorney, long-time Fox friend, and son of the late state Sen. Robert L. Schuler, a Cincinnati Republican. Both were indicted by a federal grand jury.

The indictment alleges that Fox, a Republican, solicited and got money from individuals doing business with Butler County while he was a commissioner from 2001-2005. Fox received a $360,000 line of credit from a fiber optic contract that Schuler had with Butler County - and that Fox signed. A consulting company Fox owned later received $100,000, according to the indictment.

While it's highly unlikely, both men could face dozens of years in prison if convicted. Mail fraud alone is punishable by up to 20 years incarceration on each count.

Fox had a checkered 23-year career in the legislature before resigning in 1997 to become a Butler County commissioner. He was adept at working with Democrats and was the father of the state's first "workfare" program in which welfare recipients were required to work for their benefits.

In 1991, Fox had to withdraw as former Gov. George V. Voinovich's nominee to become state human services director after it was revealed he cashed $3,200 in bad checks at the state treasury and had an improper interest in a company that had state contracts.

Later, Fox was censured and stripped of his chairmanship of the House Education Committee for breaking ethics law by accepting airfare and accommodations in Las Vegas from a lobbyist.